If you experience pelvic pain from endometriosis, as 75% of women with this condition do, Jeffrey Illeck, MD, Anne K. Narayan, MD, and the experienced OB/GYN team at Beach Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Group in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, California, can help. They screen for and offer innovative treatments for endometriosis and infertility associated with it. Call Beach Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Group at the first sign of pelvic pain or infertility, or schedule an appointment online today.
Endometriosis is a gynecological condition that occurs when uterine tissue grows in areas it’s not supposed to. Your uterus is where a baby develops during pregnancy, and it’s lined with endometrium, or uterine tissue. Patches of uterine tissue, or implants, outside of the uterus might appear:
The cause of endometriosis isn’t entirely understood.
You may not experience symptoms at all with endometriosis but it you do, you may notice:
Everybody is different, but pelvic pain and infertility are the most common symptoms of endometriosis. The gynecologists at Beach Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Group run a series of tests to determine if you have endometriosis.
Anybody can develop endometriosis, but the following factors are associated with this gynecological condition:
Your chance of developing endometriosis is lower if you’ve had a past pregnancy, have a low body fat percentage and exercise more than four hours weekly, or if your menstrual cycle started later in adolescence.
After completing a pelvic exam, your doctor uses ultrasound, laparoscopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or combinations of these tests to diagnose endometriosis. They work with you to develop a customized treatment plan that best matches your needs, which may include:
Your doctor might recommend taking over-the-counter or prescription medications to ease pain associated with endometriosis.
Altering hormone levels within your body using contraceptives or other forms of hormone therapy may reduce endometriosis pain, slow endometrial tissue growth, or prevent new tissue growth.
Your gynecologist performs innovative laparoscopic surgery to remove implants associated with endometriosis. They insert a laparoscope, or tiny viewing instrument, through a small incision and use special tools to remove endometrial tissue.
If you suffer from infertility caused by endometriosis, your doctor develops a custom treatment plan to increase your chances of becoming pregnant or refers you to a qualified infertility specialist in the area.
Don’t let endometriosis reduce your quality of life or prevent you from starting a family. Call Beach Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Group to learn more about your treatment options or use the online booking tool.